Ball



June 12, 1923 1,458,672

C. C. WITMER ET AL BALL Filed Nov. 17. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JQLL.

fi I 11 13 Snow Wow Charles I: .WiImE-I" 6cm wuf Eleczkwith Havens June 12, 1923. 1,458,672

C. C. WITMER ET AL BALL Filed Nov. 17. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5%. E1

Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. WITMER AND BECKWIT H HAVENS, F HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOBS TO AIRSHIPS INCORPORATED, 0F HAMMONDSPORT, NEW YORK, A.

CORPORATION 015 NEW YORK.

BALL.

Application filed November 17, 1921. Serial No. 515,930.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES C. WITMER and BEOKWITI-I HAvENs, citizens of the United States, residing at Hammondsport, in the county of Steuben and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Balls, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention relates to sporting goods and toys and more particularly to a novelly constructed ball, and the primary objectof the invention is to providean improved 1nfiatable ball of a relatively large size constructed of balloon cloth, so as to insure not only a fluid tight body, but a body of great durability, thereby eliminating the necessity of providing a protecting cover and bladder, is now used in inflatable balls on the market, the said cloth rendering the balls impervious to water, thereby rendering the balls particularly adaptable for water sports, where in cases of necessity the same can be used as a life preserver.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an inflatable ball, which will be of a very light weight and which can be constructed or cut from patterns similar to regular balloons, so as to insure the quick and inexpensive production thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an inflatable ball made of balloon cloth and including a plurality of gores connected together in a novel manner so as to form ridges facing in the same circumferential direction, the connection serving as means for reinforcin the ball and as anti-skid surfaces for faci itating the throwing and the catching of the -ball, the connection serving as means for permitting the curving of the ball when being thrown or struck, by an object. Y

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a novelly constructed inflatable ball formed of balloon cloth, embodying aminimum number of parts, and a novel means for associating the parts together, so as to form a strong, neat and inex ensive ball.

ith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described,

c m and illustrated in t accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings: b fiigure 1 is a plan view of the improved Figure 2 is a side elevation of the improved ball.

Figure 3 is a horizontal die-metric section through the improved ball.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the ball illustrating the means of connecting the valve therewith.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the views, the letter A generally indicates the improved ball, which is preferably formed of. balloon cloth. The ball is formed relatively large, that is, of a size ranging from eighteen to thirty inches. Of course, the size of the ball may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, but the range mentioned has been found to be the most practical, and con-' venient for the main purpose intended.

The ball A includes a plurality of gores 5, which all can be cut from a single pattern. The gores 5 taper from a central point toward their ends to form a segment of a sphere. The meeting edges of the gores 5 are successively overlapped as at 6 and cemented together with pure up-river Para cement. In order to further strengthen the ball at the points of connection of the gores 5, the reinforcing strips 7 are provided. These stri s 7 may be formed of balloon cloth or of canvas or any suitable material possessing the desired strength or qualifications. The strips 7 are also preferably cemented in position and include the attaching portion 8, which engages one of the gores, and the flange portion 9 for engagin' the adjacent gore. These strips or tapes seal the seams and make each seam or connection actually stronger than the fabric itself. Thus it can be seen that these strips or tapes perform a four-fold function; first, for sealing the seams or connections; sec- 0nd, to reinforce the ball; third, to form means for catching the ball by the hands; and, fourth to act as anti-skid surfaces to permit-the curving of the ball during the throwing thereof or the hitting thereof with a bat or slmilar instrument.

End walls 10 and 11 are rovided for the terminals o poles of-the sp ere or balland these walls 10 and 11' are curved to conform tothe general configuration of the ball, that is, the same will be of a substantiall con cavo-convex form, and the edges t ereof overla the terminals of the gores 5 as indicated y the reference character 12, and the edges of the walls 10 and 11 are cemented in position. A suitable tape or strip 13 can be used, so as to seal the seam or connection and to add rigidity and stren h to the ball at each terminal thereof. no end wall, such as the wall 11 may be provided with a suitable inflatin valve 14, which is provided with a threaded shank 15. This threaded shank 15 is threaded through the wall 11 and is held in place by a suitable internally threaded washer ornut 16, which abuts against a rubber wear washer or gasket 17.

The use to which the ball can be put is unlimited and it is particularly adapted to be used as a water polo ball, push ball or the like. If desirable the ball may be given a coating of aluminum before it 1s vulcanized, and thls will give a ball a novel and attractive appearance.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that a nove be has been provided of balloon cloth, which will be light in weight, durablein use, and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

Changes in details may be made without edges arranged in overlappin ing stri departing from the spirit of the invention or scope ofv the claimsybut, We claimz V 1. A ball formed of balloon cloth consisting of a plurality of gores having their relation and cemented together, disc sha e end walls cemented to the terminals of t e gores, and reinforcing and sealin strips disposed over the meetlng edges of t e gores and end walls. 2. An inflatableball formed of balloon cloth comprising a plurality'of segmental ores, the gores having thei edges 0verapped in successive order circumferentially around the ball, sealing and reinforcing stripsoverlying the gores at their points of interconnection, end walls overlying the terminals of the gores, and a reinforcing seal- 1 ing stri extending around the edges of the end we ls l 3. An inflatable ball comprising a plurality of segmental gores, the gores having their edges overlapped in successive order circumferentially around the ball, sealing and reinforcing strips overlying the gores at their points of interconnection, concaveconvex end walls overlying the terminals of the 'gores,and an annular reinforcing sealdis osed around the edges of the end wa'l s an over the terminals of the first mentioned sealin and reinforcin stri s.

CT-IARLES C. T R.

BECKWITH HAVENS. 

